Dr. Stephen Baker's area of specialization is head & neck plastic surgery. After attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), David Geffen School of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Dr. Baker completed his residency training at a hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. His areas of expertise include the following: eyelid surgery, dermabrasion, and mini tummy tuck. He is rated highly by his patients. He honors Amerigroup, MAMSI, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, as well as other insurance carriers. He has received distinctions including US News and World Report: Top 1 Percent Plastic Surgeons in United States; Castle Connoly Best Doctors in America; and Samuel Stal Rhinoplasty Award. Dr. Baker is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Inova Fairfax Hospital. He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Maurice Nahabedian's medical specialty is plastic surgery. Dr. Nahabedian graduated from the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine and then he performed his residency at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, a hospital affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, and a hospital affiliated with the University of California, Irvine. His areas of expertise include the following: eyelid surgery, general reconstruction, and free flap breast reconstruction. His average patient rating is 4.5 stars out of 5. He accepts MAMSI, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and more. In addition to English, Dr. Nahabedian (or staff) speaks Spanish and Armenian. Dr. Nahabedian is professionally affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Inova Fairfax Hospital. He welcomes new patients.

Dr. Troy Pittman is a plastic surgery specialist. His clinical interests include dermabrasion, mini tummy tuck, and botox injection. Dr. Pittman is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. He graduated from SUNY, University at Buffalo School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. He trained at Rush University Medical Center for residency. Patients rated him highly, giving him an average of 4.5 stars out of 5. Dr. Pittman is in-network for MAMSI, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and more. New patients are welcome to contact his office for an appointment.

Dr. Eugenia Chu is a physician who specializes in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat). She graduated from Morehouse School of Medicine. For her professional training, Dr. Chu completed a residency program at Georgetown University Hospital. Her areas of expertise include the following: eyelid surgery, dermabrasion, and acne. Patient reviews placed Dr. Chu at an average of 5.0 stars out of 5. She takes MAMSI, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and more. She has received professional recognition including the following: RealSelf Top Doctor. She is affiliated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She has an open panel.

When you hear the words “plastic surgeon,” you might call to mind actresses with outlandish body proportions or aging stars with surreal facial features. Plastic surgery to alter appearance is referred to as “aesthetic” or “cosmetic” surgery. As is the case with celebrities, cosmetic surgery is often performed to change the appearance of a feature that a patient has always disliked, or to prevent changes from happening due to aging. However, cosmetic surgery can also restore appearance after an injury or illness -- when a medical condition leaves a physical mark that makes a patient look different, it can be very upsetting. Cosmetic plastic surgery gives patients more control over how they look.

But plastic surgery is about much more than changing someone's appearance. Plastic surgery is also about changing the form and function of the body, and often that means restoring what has been lost to injury or illness. A body part can lose its ability to function (meaning, for example, to move, grip, protect underlying tissues, or feel sensation) to many causes. Some common ones are burns, infections, injuries (e.g. from car accidents), illnesses (such as cancer), problems present from birth (such as cleft palate), or even scar tissue from previous surgeries. When plastic surgery is used to repair a damaged part, it is called “reconstructive surgery.” Reconstructive procedures restore the abilities of the patient so that they can use their body in as normal and healthy a way as possible.

Plastic surgeons are experts at safely moving tissue from one part of the body to another, using microsurgery techniques to reconnect the tiny blood vessels and nerves. They use these skills not only to improve appearance (cosmetic surgery), but also to repair damaged body parts (reconstructive surgery).

Facial plastic surgeons are physicians who provide surgical or medical treatment to change the appearance of the face, head, or neck. We communicate a great deal through tiny, natural movements of the face, so the work of a facial plastic surgeon requires an unusually high level of skill.

Facial plastic surgeons provide a number of treatment options, such as:

Cosmetic surgery, intended to enhance the appearance. These procedures are usually considered elective, although they can be psychologically very important to patients. Cosmetic procedures seek to increase physical beauty, and can include facelifts, liposuction, and nose jobs.

Reconstructive surgery, to correct the appearance. Often these procedures are considered medically necessary and treat patients who are experiencing negative effects due to an aspect of their appearance. Procedures that can be considered reconstructive may include the removal of birthmarks and scars, repairs after serious accidents, and the correction of problems such as cleft palate.

Medical treatments that do not involve surgery. This category of procedures includes Botox, wrinkle treatments, injectable fillers, or medical skin products.

Facial plastic surgeons may have trained as plastic surgeons first, but most physicians who specialize in facial plastic surgery actually begin as otolaryngologists, or ear, nose, and throat doctors. A large part of the training that all otolaryngologists receive in medical school involves surgery on the face, and facial plastic surgery is considered the largest subspecialty of otolaryngology.

The field of facial plastic surgery is changing rapidly, with new advances in the past few years, such as laser therapy, minimally invasive surgery, and microsurgery. Facial plastic surgeons are able to use this knowledge to help you feel confident about the face you present to the world.

Head and neck surgery is a subspecialty that provides advanced surgical care for the head, face, neck, and throat. Most head and neck surgeons begin their careers as otolaryngologists (ENTs) or plastic surgeons, but becoming certified as a head and neck surgeon requires additional training.

A surgeon who treats the head and neck has very specific considerations to take into account when operating. The delicate structures of the head and neck control our senses, our speech, our ability to chew and swallow food, and even our ability to breathe. A head and neck surgeon has to be careful to preserve the many functions of the head and neck when performing an operation. Also, when operating on or around the face, extreme care must be taken to leave as few scars as possible, since the face is a critical part of identity and social interaction. It all adds up to a tricky job.

Some of the issues a head and neck surgeon might treat include:

Cancer

Trauma to the face or neck

Thyroid disorders requiring surgery

Sinus surgery

Tonsillectomies / adenoidectomies

Cleft palate repair

Disorders of the larynx (voice box)

Cancers, especially of the esophagus, mouth, lips, and skin around the face or throat, are one of the most common issues requiring head or neck surgery. Most often, head and neck cancers are related to tobacco use. Chewing tobacco in particular affects the lips and mouth. Other risk factors for head and neck cancers include alcohol use and sun exposure.

Often after surgery, but particularly after the removal of a tumor, head and neck surgeons will perform reconstructive surgery, including microvascular surgery to connect or replace skin tissue. The goal is to restore not only a patient’s function but also their appearance in this critical area of the body, improving self-esteem.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is the specialty providing surgical care for the mouth and jaw. It is unusual in that it is a hybrid specialty combining the professional education of both dentists and medical doctors. The path to becoming an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or simply ‘oral surgeon,’ begins with graduating from dental school. The dentist then attends a surgical residency in a hospital, learning general surgical techniques alongside other physicians.

While many routine oral issues can be treated by a dentist, there are some that require specialized surgical care. Some of the procedures performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons include:

Removing wisdom teeth

Dental implants

Corrective surgery for facial deformities

Repair of facial trauma

Cleft lip or cleft palate surgery

TMJ surgery

Orthognathic surgery (jaw alignment)

Sleep apnea surgery

Some of these procedures are also performed by otolaryngologists or ENTs. There is quite a bit of overlap between the two specialties, and in many cases both will be qualified to perform a specific surgery. In general, oral surgeons are more likely to perform surgeries related to the mouth and jaw, such as wisdom tooth removal or TMJ surgery; whereas ENTs are more likely to handle cancers. However, areas of specialization are truly dependent on the individual physician.

One unusually convenient fact about oral and maxillofacial surgeons is that they are highly trained in the use of sedation and anesthesia, more so than any other doctors except anesthesiologists. This means that they are able to perform surgeries such as the removal of wisdom teeth on an outpatient basis in their office, without the need for an additional anesthesiologist on staff.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons combine surgical expertise with their knowledge of dentistry to provide serious care for the structures of the jaw and face.

Otolaryngologists are also called 'ENTs' because their area of specialty is the ears, nose, and throat. Otolaryngologists treat most of the diseases and disorders that affect the head or neck. They can provide routine medical care, such as giving hearing tests or treating chronic conditions such as allergies. Otolaryngologists also perform a number of surgeries on the head and neck. Some of the illnesses and issues that otolaryngologists treat include:

Because they perform so many delicate surgeries of the face, otolaryngologists are often sought out as plastic surgeons when facial surgery is required. Their specialized knowledge of the anatomy of the head and face can make a real difference in the outcome of a surgery, from a brow lift to a total facial reconstruction after trauma.